We know databases inside out and we love working on them

Do you save your data? Into databases? Do you work with data from these
databases? So do we. Let us make it easier for you. We'll be happy to
show you how.

Take advantage of our years of experience with every kind of database
(DB) under the sun. We know how to make it easier to improve your work and
simplify things to optimize the processes – frankly speaking, we will take
you to places you have never been. Trust our experience in the following
fields:

Let's get to know them a little, so you can get a clear picture of
how we can help you.

10

What this number represents: There are 10 databases we can offer you including
the Oracle DB, Teradata or Exadata. Which one suits you best?

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Oracle Database

The Oracle Database is one of the most advanced universal relational
databases. It is perfect for managing transactional, as well as
analytical tasks.

The present-day Oracle Database profits from more than 30 years of
experience and innovation in the field of relational databases. Its origins can
be traced back to CIA activities.

The product is usually called ‚Oracle‘ and its strongest suit is its
ability to find the best way to access data automatically,
while being fully transparent from the user's point of view. When considering
Oracle, remember that it comes with a huge, well-established community of users
and developers in addition to a vast amount of related educational literature
covering practically all aspects of the database. It is primarily a
line-orientated database, however, recent versions have seen growing support of
using columns in data saving (hybrid column compression, in-memory option) too.
The Oracle Database manages small and large amounts of data
extremely well and its different approaches in the creation of the relational
model makes it a true universal platform with great potential for scalability.
The database uses its own SQL dialect, yet manages virtually all ANSI SQL
syntax. For more complicated tasks, PL/SQL or Java can be used.

The Oracle Database supports operative and analytical tasks, such as the data
warehouse, including OLAP. The stated task can even be run simultaneously,
though based on our experiences, we would not recommend this approach due to
contradictory requests.

Oracle supports high availability along with a number of
robust back-up / recovery technologies in case of failure. Among the
most important Oracle technologies are the Real Application Cluster, Automatic
Storage Management, elaborate partitioning of database objects,
parallel operations, the option of parallel reading and writing of the same data
structures, including mechanisms which ensure reading consistency, data
compression and resource management. The latest Oracle versions also offer the
option of running more database instances on one host database instance.

We have had great, long-term experiences implementing a variety of
solutions on the Oracle Database platform, including advanced
optimizations (these are rarely needed), and we can perfectly adapt the Oracle
Database to customer needs, not to mention application proposals,
implementation, performance optimization as well as user training.

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MICROSOFT SQL SERVER

The MS SQL Server is a comprehensive information platform supporting
applications of all sizes, in conjunction with data centers and data warehouses
with analytical and reporting service support.

The Microsoft SQL Server represents a comprehensive solution
for database servers and information platforms while offering a complete set of
technologies and tools prepared for a company's envi­ronment. It helps users
get the maximum value from their information and makes sure they pay the lowest
total costs.

The SQL Server is characterized by high availability, scalability,
performance, easy migration and reliability. Supporting standard SQL
language is extended by T-SQL (Transact-SQL) for writing functions, storage
procedures, triggers or using SQL code.

Apart from the database engine for storing data and transaction-oriented data
processing, it also includes engines for Business Intelligence
(BI) which are part of the installation and included in the license
price: an analytical engine for OLAP databases and data cubes; a
reporting engine for online reporting; and an integration engine for
data integration (ETL) among various source and target
databases. This makes it a part of the integrated platform for Business
Intelligence by Microsoft. It features full functionality for data warehousing,
analysis, and reporting and performance scorecards with decays into detailed
data analyses and Data Mining models.

Microsoft SQL Server

The SQL Server is featured in both the Gartner magic quadrant for BI
Platforms and Data Warehousing and, unlike its competitors, it is
constantly improving its position in the market. We must not forget a wonderful
choice of online trainings and lectures that are available for individual areas,
and an incredibly strong user community with discussion forums and ample sources
of advice. We have extensive practical experience with projects done
over the MS SQL Server, including schema proposals and database
structures, through the integration of data from heterogeneous sources to the
design and implementation of analytical and reporting structures.

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Sybase IQ add Sybase ASE

We will describe Sybase IQ and Sybase ASE technologies usage with specific
examples, compare their parameters and specify recommended areas for usage.

Sybase ASE (Adaptive Server Enterprise) is an older technology. Its
original name was Sybase SQL Server and it was one of the first SQL relational
databases.

Sybase ASE is typically used as an OLTP
system (on-line transactions processing) which makes it an interesting
alternative to similar systems, such as the aforementioned Microsoft SQL Server,
and Oracle database server.

Adastra has supplied and is further developing a solution based on Sybase ASE
for a prominent insurance company on the Czech market. Specifically, it is the
database layer of a web application that makes the customer database accessible
(in this case, client data and insurance contracts). The data are mostly updated
from the primary system during regular mass data processing at night. During the
day the data is available to application users and are, at the same time,
updated via the database plus the data that is being added by users.

Sybase IQ is also a database system, however it is typically
used for OLAP (on-line analytical processing) – i.e. the
analysis of large data via analytical tools (for instance Microstrategy,
Business objects etc.). For optimal querying of large data the Sybase IQ
technology uses a patent protected data saving solution. Thanks to
this, databases realized in Sybase IQ have fewer requirements for disk space
compared to conventional technologies, while providing significantly higher
performance for OLAP operations. Adastra supplied the insurance company with a
data warehouse solution built on Sybase IQ. Updating data in the data warehouse
is performed at the weekend, while data are available for analytical
tasks and reporting in IQ from Monday to Friday.

Moreover, Sybase offers replication and ETL technology that enables the
uploading of data into the IQ database system from heterogeneous source systems.
The replication server ensures data replication from Sybase ASE into Sybase IQ.
A Sybase ETL component allows data to be uploaded from other database systems
as well as from text files into Sybase IQ.

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Etalon for datawarehouse

Teradata works like any other database, but it is faster, easier and without
any complicated administration.

Teradata is a leader amongst platforms for enterprise data warehousing and
its simplicity makes it attractive to use. A Business Power User, without any
special training, can write requests that will work with enormous amounts of
data with a satisfactory response. Moreover, basic administration of the
Teradata database is a piece of cake. The design of the physical model is
friendly and directly connected to the factual side of issues. The genius is in
the simplicity that you buy meaning there is no need to input huge amounts of
information just for the sake of technology itself.

Let us help you with your projects on the Teradata database. Here are some of
the ways we have worked with data warehouses on this platform:

Developing DWH solutions – Teradata

DWH Application development – Teradata

Our own support utilities

SQL request optimization

Audit logical and physical design solutions

Training Power Users

Basic ‚architecture‘ settings of space and users

Space redistribution

User/roles creation

Creating databases

Settings user rights

Basic setting of user limitation

Installation of basic client tools

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PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL is an interesting and affordable alternative to commercial
relational databases well worth considering from a database needs' point
of view.

PostgreSQL, also knows as Postgres, is an advanced
open-source object relational database which is a pleasure to use as it
boasts such qualities as boldly replacing a commercial database. Apart from
support, Postgres can be acquired for free and is a perfectly
adequate relational database on which you can build a solution that will ensure
you advantages over your competitors.

Postgres places great emphasis on standardization and
scalability. An example of this is its support for compatible
extensions with Oracle DB and PL/SQL (the Postgres Plus Advanced Server) despite
the fact that, apart from SQL (ANSI SQL:2011), unpolluted Postgres can use a
number of procedural languages, such as Java, Perl, Python C amongst others, not
to mention its own procedural language PL/pgSQL. All in all, Postgres is not
only a ‚free Oracle Database‘, but a fully adequate relational database.

As for the migration tools used for transferring from different databases,
apart from advanced mechanisms for competitive marketplace offers, Progres also
offers such elements as data replication into backup instances including the
option to read them, online backup, schemes, partitioning, security support and
an array of various types of indexes.

It's worth mentioning the support provided for a wide range of data types,
including XML or JSON, and user data types, table inheritance (therefore object
relational databases),re­ference integrity and column controls. Triggers and
data wrappers can be made fully transparent so that remote data sources are
accessible (web services or databases) as is the case, for instance, of
spreadsheets.

IBM Netezza TwinFIn – focuses on the simplicity found in, and the
performance of asymmetrical massively parallel processing (AMPP architecture).
A great solution for your enterprise data warehouse.

Netezza is a classic appliance solution. A ready-made ‚box‘ that
is completely prepared to be used upon installation. All you need to do is put
it into the server room, connect it and turn it on.

The appliance integrates a database, a server and a data warehouse, all built
on proprietary architecture with extremely strong AMPP (Asymmetric Massively
Parallel Processing). Its main feature is FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays).
Within one rack there can be up to 96 Snippet Blades (S-Blades) that unite the
CPU, RAM and data warehouse into one place.

Linux RH AS was chosen as the operation system, while SQL fulfills the
SQL-92 standard with an SQL-99 extensions used for data manipulation.

The system can load data into the data stream as high as 2TB/hour. It uses
analytical modules for parallel processing, such as: nzMatrix, nzEngine for R,
nzEngine for Hadoop, nzAnalytics, R A.

Oracle Exadata Database Machine

The Oracle Exadata Database Machine is the undisputed leading Oracle Database
and brings a fresh, new and innovative look at the universal relational
databases.

The Oracle Exadata Database Machine (Exadata) is an integrated
solution of the Database Appliance class for the transactional and analytical
tasks. Alternatively, Exadata can be used as a platform for the consolidation of
more Oracle Database instances.

It is one of the ‚engineered systems‘ of the Oracle company intended for
database tasks. Exadata integrates Oracle software and hardware into one
package, thus creating a perfectly balanced platform with high availability
performance achieved. This cannot be carried out on ordinary hardware, not even
in theory.

Exadata uses a number of software and hardware components which cannot be
used on normal hardware due to licensing and/or technological reasons. The
cornerstones of Exadata are the Real Application Cluster (RAC), Automatic
Storage Management (ASM), Flash Cache, Storage Server, Storage Index, Smart
Scan, hybrid column compression, InfinitiBand and the Oracle Database.

The most important characteristic of Exadata is its ability to move
part of the database logic directly onto storage servers, so a portion
of SQL operations can be realized independently without needing to transfer data
from a disk subsystem into the memory of the database server.

Scalability of Exadata is, theoretically, unlimited thanks
to the option of connecting individual boxes of Exadata into one cluster through
InfiniBand.

Oracle Exadata Database Machine is absolutely and unquestionably the
best Oracle Database.

It should be pointed out that all components of the solution are from one
supplier who ensures central support of the hardware and software, including
rigorous testing of software patches of all layers against each other.

The use of existing Oracle Database licenses for Exadatu is important
to note; Adastra has had great experiences when migrating solutions
built on the Oracle Database into the Exadata environment. Exadata is used by
more than ten thousand customers all over the world (there are already dozens of
users in the Czech Republic) and has even played a part in the making of the
film Iron Man in addition to helping sailboats used in the Americas Cup
yacht race.

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Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database

The Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database can be used as an independent database
or integrated as a cache for the Oracle Database.

The Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database (TimesTen) is an excellent product
which boasts fantastic performance thanks to how it saves the entire relational
database into the operational memory of a server. Thanks to its architecture,
the influence of disk systems, which are the main reason why all modern database
servers slow down, is practically nonexistent. If a well-tuned Oracle Database
manages tasks in tens of milliseconds, TimesTen manages identical tasks
in mere fractions of milliseconds. Thanks to this, the throughput of
TimesTen is many times higher compared with non-memory databases. These
parameters enables us to use TimesTen as a database for rapid analyses of
enormous amounts of data in operational memories or as a transaction database
for critical tasks.

TimesTen can be used as an independent database or it can easily function as
a separated cache for the Oracle Database which can serve as a source or target
database. TimesTen is typically installed on the application server, whereas an
Oracle Database has its own dedicated server. TimesTen supports
clustering, high accessibility and a full recovery from a subsystem disk in case
of failure.

TimesTen supports a wide range of connectors for various technologies. It is
also one of the basic components of a specialized appliance for data analysis in
the operating memory- Oracle Exalytics in-Memory Machine.

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HP Vertica

The HP Vertica Analytics Platform is consciously designed as an efficient
analytics platform for big data.

HP Vertica is a relational database based on standardization and
simplicity and all popular visualization tools such as Tableau, Microstrategy,
MS Excel, Power BI, amongst others, are tightly integrated with
it.

HP Vertica is optimized for large-scale analytics. It is uniquely designed
using a distributed compressed columnar paradigm resulting in a Massively
Parallel Processing (MPP) platform that distributes its workload over multiple
commodity servers using a shared-nothing architecture.

HP Vertica supports a series of built-in analytics libraries including time
series and analytics packs for geospatial and sentiment, plus additional
functions from vendors such as SAS. In addition, it supports analytics written
using R programming language for predictive modeling.

Why is HP Vertica so sought-after? One simple reason is its uniquely
fast data loads as data can be loaded in batch or continuously. HP Vertica
allows immediate querying of the data no matter which regime you
choose.

It is a column-store database benefiting from MPP
(Massively Parallel Processing) architecture and from advanced
compression. It provides blazing fast speed (queries run
50–1,000× faster) and petabyte-scale. Vertica fully supports analytical SQL
and standard access via JDBC/ODBC for further reporting and analytical tools
without any extensive user retraining. The HP Vertica license model is based on
the volume of saved data.

Aside from the Enterprise Edition, a limited Community version of HP
Vertica is available for free.

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MongoDB

A multiplatform document database focused on high performance, high
availability and easy scalability.

In this NoSQL database, a record represents a document – unlike a
row in an SQL database – which may consist of extremely complex types of data
ultimately saved in a collection (as a table in SQL).

In MongoDB a document is saved as a JSON object that everyone can easily
read. For a programmer, this version of saving is more natural than transforming
data to a relational model of a standard SQL database.

MongoDB supports dynamic schema, whereas in a relational database it
is necessary to modify schema and migrate data before adding a new
functionality. NoSQL databases are ready for data loads without any
pre-prepared schema enabling users to include new functionalities within an
application with no service interruption allowing you to implement change
faster, a feature which is especially useful in agile development.

Sharding is a technique where data in the collection are divided into smaller
blocks by a „sharding key“ at single servers in what is
known as horizontal scalability. As a result of this feature, the system is
easily optimized for a high throughput. We cannot imagine any modern
database without this feature.

MognoDB supports the replication process and is a necessary feature
in all production environments requiring high availability. For
replication purposes, MongoDB uses a replica set which has one master server
overseeing other servers running in a slave regime as they replicate data from
the master server.

Notwithstanding enhanced database security, replication can also be used for
load balancing while reading from the database. MongoDB supports the setting of
reading preference where, in addition to a specific selection, it can
automatically select replica according to network latency (nearest).

These features make MongoDB well-suited for critical applications where
scaling of common relational databases is both extremely sophisticated and
challenging. Moreover, thanks to its features, it excels in lightning quick
searches in extended collections.

The price is also great. It's free.

Case studies

Stories of successful projects

Read the stories of successful projects. In these stories you can find an
interesting wisdom of gained experiences and certainly answers to many of your
questions.

A major Czech bank is using API/ELT generators by Adastra, for an Oracle
Database, to successfully create a new system for automatic application
approvals (NAS DB), an Operational Data Store and a new data warehouse (Analytic
Data Warehouse).

Following consultations with Adastra, the bank successfully migrated and
consolidated its databases on the Oracle Exadata Database Machine platform.
Thanks to this, the bank dramatically simplified its IT infrastructure with
regard to databases, making them more effective and faster, all while cutting IT
infrastructure cos­ts.

Team

YOUR Database EXPERTS

Our reputation is built on capable people who steer your project
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that information is elusive and problematic.

Telecom operators and Internet service providers have a legal obligation to
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transmissions, including metadata about them, in the provision of customer data.
To facilitate these processes we have developed customized solutions.

Do you have so many customers that it becomes difficult to monitor their
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